Subnuclear distribution of the vitamin D receptor

The subnuclear distribution of the vitamin D receptor was investigated to begin addressing the contribution of nuclear architecture to vitamin D–responsive control of gene expression in ROS 17/2.8 rat osteosarcoma cells. The nuclear matrix is an anastomosing network of filaments that is functionally associated with DNA replication, transcription, and RNA processing. The representation of vitamin D receptor in the nuclear matrix and nonmatrix nuclear fractions was determined by the combined application of (1) sequence‐specific interactions with the vitamin D receptor binding element of the rat bone‐specific osteocalcin gene promoter and (2) Western blot analysis. Both methods confirmed the presence of vitamin D receptor in the nonmatrix nuclear fraction and the absence of detectable vitamin D receptors associated with the nuclear matrix. In contrast, these same nuclear matrix proteins preparations exhibited association with the general transcription factor AP‐1 and a bone tissue‐specific promoter binding factor NMP2. NMP‐2 exhibits recognition for a promoter domain contiguous to the vitamin D‐responsive element of the osteocalcin gene, although the vitamin D receptor does not appear to be a component of the nuclear matrix proteins. Interrelationships between nuclear matrix proteins and nonmatrix nuclear proteins, in mediating steroid hormone responsiveness of a vitamin D–regulated promoter, are therefore suggested.